Fire-hydrant



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C. E. LOETZER.

FIRE HYDRANT.

No. 570,031. Patented 0013.27, 1896.

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C. E. LOBTZER.

PIRE HYDRANT. No. 570,031. o Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

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l PIRE HYDRANT. No. 570,031. Patented Oct. 27 1896.

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CHRISTIAN E. LOETZER, OF VILLIAHSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-HYDRANT.

SPECIFICATION forming palb of Letters Patent No. 570,031, dated October27, 1896. Application iiled November 16, 1895. Serial No. 569,208. (Nomodel.) i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN E. LOETZER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at W'illiamsport, in the countyof Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fire-Hydrant, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to tire-hydrants, and aims to obviate digging upor otherwise disturbing the stand-pipe in the event of it becomingnecessary to make repairs of any kind or to inspect the gates and--their seats.

A further purpose of the invention is'to secure a tight joint betweenthe gates and their seats and to utilize the water-pressure to maintainthe gates in closed relation.

Other objects and advantages are contemplated and will become apparentas the nature of the invention is fully understood; and to this end theimprovement consists in certain details of construction, novel features,

and peculiar combinations of the parts whichA hereinafter will be morefully illustrated, described, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an embodiment of the invention,although various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing from the principleor sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, and in saiddrawings- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a nre-hydrantconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a view, similarto Fig. 1, of the case or shell forming the base of the stand-pipe andinclosing the gates and the parts intimately associated therewith,showing the gates open. Fig. 3 is a plan section on the line X X of Fig.l. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the case or shell, the housing or framefor the gates being in position. Fig. 5 is a front view of the saidhousing or frame. Fig. 6 is an enlarged View of the gate 19, viewed fromthe rear side and having the wedges in operative relation and showingthe relative disposition of the parts when moving the gate upward. Fig.7 is a view, similar to Fig. 6,0f the gate 1S, showing the relativelocation of the parts when applying a'downward pressure. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the two gates and the wedges, showing the partsseparated.

The same reference-numerals indicate corresponding and like parts in allthe gures of the drawings, and in the latter 1 denotes the stand-pipe;2, the dome for closing the upper endthereof and which is secured inplace by bolts 3, passing through anges at their meeting parts; 4, thecase or shell forming the base of the stand-pipe and inc-losing theframe or housing 5, containing the gates and their seats, and 6 the stemor rod for operating the gates when it is required to open and close thesame'.

The case or shell 4 has an offstanding collar 7 at its lower end to makeconnection with the water-main, and its rear side is swelled orenlarged, as shown at 8, to form a waterway for the passage of the waterto the stand-pipe when the gates are open.

Ribs 9 extend vertically and in parallel relation at the front side ofthe case 4, and their inner sides are planed or dressed to form guidesfor the front side of the housing or frame 5, and similar ribs lO extendvertically and in parallelism and are disposed near the rear side of thecase 4, preferably at the juncture of the swelled portion 8 therewith,and the inner corners of these ribs 10 are beveled or concaved, as shownat 11, to form seats for the rear side of the said housing or frame 5,thereby centralizing and properly positioning the same when pushed homeinto the case 4. The ribs 9 and l0 act jointly to fix the position ofthe housing or frame 5 when the latter is inserted into the case 4, andthe lower portion of the ribs 10 is slightly inclined toward the frontside of the case, as shown at 12, toproduce a wedging action whenforcing the housing or frame 5 to its place Within the case, and thelower rear portion of the said housing or frame is correspondinglyinclined to coperate with the inclined portion 12 of the ribs 10 toattain the desired end. Lugs 13 are located at the entrance end of thecase 4 and serve to give proper direction to the housingor frame 5 whenplacing the latter into the case 4., The contiguous ends of thestand-pipe and case are flanged and are secured together by bolts in theusual manner;

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The housing or frame 5 isformed withreg-r Y istering openings which aresupplied ywith seats 14 and 15 and which aline with the collar 7 whenthe housing is in proper position. The upper end of the housing is open,and is closed by means of a cap 1G, detachably connected therewith, andwhich is eentrallyprovided with a stuffing-box 17, through whichoperates the stein or rod G. The gates 1S and 19 are adapted to movevertically in the housing 5 and are directed in their vertical movementsby suitable guideways, and are formed on their inner or opposing sideswith anges 2O and 21, which come together and inclose a space in whichare placed the wedges, the fianges 21 having notches 20 and the iianges2O having corresponding projections 2()b to enter and interlock with thesaid notches 20"L to prevent vertical displacement of the gates. A nut2i has a wedge 22 at its lower end, which matches with a correspondingwedge 23, located below, and this nut 24 has posit-ive connection withboth ot' the gates by means of lateral ribs 24, entering grooves 24h inthe sides of the gateiianges, and receives the lower threaded end of thestein or rod G, so that upon rotating thelatter the gates 18 and 10 willbe raised and lowered, accordingly as it is required to open or closethe hydrant. Each gate will have a packing-ring 25 to cooperate with itsrespective seat to secure a close and tight joint. Then lowering thegates, the lower wedge 23 will engage with a vertical projection 26 onthe bottom of the housing 5, and the inclined faces of the wedgesengaging and the wedges riding past one another will result in a wedgingaction, tending to spread the gates 1S and 19 and thereby force themclose against their seats. A gasket 27, of lead or similar substance, isfitted into a recess in the front side of the housing 5 and encirclesthe immer end of the opening leading into the collar 7, and the purposeof this gasket 27 is to'secure a tight joint between the housing 5 andthe inner side of the case 4 opposite the collar 7, so as to preventleakage.

The stand-pipe 1 is provided at its upper end with connections 2S forthe attachment therewith of the hose-pipe for conveying the water to therequired point of use. These connections are norm ally closed byremovable caps. A packing-plate 29 is secured between the dome 2 and theupper end of the standpipe and is formed on its top side with a stuffing-box 30 and upon its lower side with a bearing 31, in which is fittedthe enlarged end or head of the stem or rod 6. An operating-rod 32 isjournaled at its ends in the dome and packingplate 29, and its lower endmakes connection with the head or upper end of the stem or rod (l, sothat upon turning the part 32 the stem or rod 6 will rotate therewith,thereby raising or lowering the gates, according to the direction ofrotation of the part 0, as willbe readily understood. The upper end ofthe operating-rod 32 projects above the dome 2 and is made angular orotherwise constructed to receive a suitable instrument bymeans of whichthe part 32 can be rotated.

Vhen it is required to inspect the gates or repair the same, the dome 2and the packingplate 29 are removed, and by drawing upon the stem or rodG the housing 5, with the attached parts, is withdrawn through thestandpipe, and after the necessary inspection or repairs have been madethe housing is replaced bypassing it down through the standpipe, andafter the parts 29 and 2 have been secured in place the hydrant is againready for use. A pipe 33 incloses the stem or rod G and rests upon thestuffing-box 17, and its top end comes in contact with the bearing 31,and the purpose of this pipe is to secure the housing or frame 5 inplace and prevent any vertical movement thereof after the parts havebeen properlypositioned. The pressure of the water against the gate 18will be transmitted to the gate 19 and serve to force and hold thelatter against its seat. Hence the greater the pressure 'exertedlaterally against the gate 18 the iirmer will the gate 19 be forced andheld against its seat.

The interlocking feature of the gates and wedges is not claimed herein,as it is incorporated and claimed in an application for a like inventiontiled by me on or about July 24:, 1896, Serial No. 600,40.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Alire-hydrant comprising a stand-pipe, a base connected with the lowerend thereof and having a lateral opening, a frame fitted within the baseand removable therefrom through the stand-pipe and having seats toregister with the aforesaid lateral opening, means for pressing theframe laterally-against the inner side of the base, gates located withinthe frame and adapted to close against the seats, and actuatingmechanism for opening and closing the gates, substantially as set fort-hfor the purpose described.

2. In a lire-hydrant, the combination of a stand-pipe, a base having anoifstanding collar at its lower end for connection with the water-mainand having inclined guides opposite to the said collar, a frame fittedwithin the base and removable therefrom through the stand-pipe andhaving a portion inclined to cooperate with the aforesaid inclinedguides, and having openin gs to register with the opening through thecollar, gates operating within the frame to close the openings thereof,and actuating mechanism for the said gates, substantially as set forthfor the purpose described.

3. The combination of a stand-pipe, a base connected therewith andhaving vertical guides, the rearmost guides having inclined portions, ahousing having oppositely-disposed openings and fitted in the base andproperly positioned by the said inclined portions, and removable throughthe stand-pipe, and gates movable within the housing and constructed toclose the openings` therein, substantially as set forth for the purposedescribed.

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4. The combination with a case having an offstanding collar near thelower end of its front side and having its rear side swelled to form awaterway, of a housing removably fitted within the case and havingopenings in its front and rear side to register with the opening throughthe said collar, gates Inovable within the housing for closing againstthe inner ends of the openings therein, and provisions for operating thegates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination, a stand-pipe, a case tted to the lower end thereofand having an offs banding collar, a housing removably tted within thecase and having openings to register with the opening through the saidcollar, gates operating within the housing for closing the openingsthereof, a packing-plate at the upper end of. the stand-pipe having abearing on its lower side and a stufng-box on its top side, a pipeinterposed between the packing-plate bearing and the upper end of thehousing to hold the latter in place, a stem operating through thelast-mentioned pipe for operating the gates and having an enlargedportion or head j ournaled in the bearing of the packing-plate, and arod making connection with the head of the stem and obtaining a bearingin the packing-plate and the stuffing-box thereof, substantially as setforth.

6. In combination, a stand-pipe, a case fltted to the-lower end thereofand having an offstandin g collar, a housing removably fitted within thecase and having openings in line with the opening through the saidcollar, gates operating within the housing to close the openingsthereof, a dome tted to the upper end of the stand-pipe, a packing-plateheldin place by the dome, a pipe between the .packing-plate and the topend of the said housing, a stem or rod located within the pipe andadapted to operate the gates, and an operating-rod journaled in the domeand the said packing-plate and making connection with the upper end ofthe said stem, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A nre-hydrant constructed substantially as herein specified,comprising a stand-pipe, a case fitted to the lower end thereof andhaving an offstanding collar at its front side and a swelled portion atits rear side to form a waterway, and having vertically disposed guides,the rearmost guides having the portion opposite the collar inclined, ahousing removably inserted within the case and having its rear sidecorrespondingly inclined to the aforesaid inclined guides, and havingopenings in register with the collar, gates operating within thehousing, a stem or rod for operating the gates, a packing-plate, a pipeinterposed between the packing-plate and the top end of the housing, andmeans for operating the said stem for opening and closing the gates,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have'hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN E. LOETZER.

Witnesses:

HUGH GILMORE, EDWARD J. FrsHER.

